Surgical instrument.



I PATENTED OCT. 23, 1906;

QD. SOURWINE. SURGICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED OGT. 23, 1906.

JOHN D. SOURWINE, OF BRAZIL, INDIANA.

SURGICAL INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 23, 1906.

Application filed July 27,1905. Serial No. 271,437.

To all whom it 772/6711] concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN D. SOURWINE, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Brazil, in the county of Clay and State of Indiana,have made a certain new and useful Invention in Surgical Instruments;and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the same, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which itappertains to make and use the invention, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to letters and figures of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a side view ofmy instrument with the wires t contracted.Fig. 2 is a similar view with the wires t expanded. Fig. 3 is a centrallongitudinal section, partly broken away. Fig. 4 is a section on theline 4 4, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 isa, section on the line 6 6, Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7 7,Fig.

- 1. Fig. 8 is a central longitudinal section, on

a larger scale, of a portion of the instrument.

The invention relates to surgical instru ments designed particularly fortreatment of the uterine cavity; and it consists in the novelconstruction and combinations of parts as hereinafter set forth.

The object of the invention is to provide a special instrument forcuretting, dilating, and irrigating the womb and cognate purposes. Insuch operations it has been usual to employ several instruments whichrequire independent adjustment and occupy valuable time to the detrimentof the patient,

when simplicity and celerity are necessary. For instance, in uterinecuretting it is usual to employ a vaginal speculum, a tenaculum, anuterine dilator, and a return-flow irrigator, and after using all theseinstruments the operation is often a failure, more harm having been donethan good, the patient sometimes dying from septic absorption.

In operating with my instrument all that is required is to use theforefinger of the left hand to guide the point of the instrument throughthe vaginal cavity to the mouth of the womb, then by gently expandingthe wires within the womb and rotating the same as the expansion goes onall the diseased contents of the womb-such as polypus, retained placentaafter abortions or premature births, or such as occur when septicconditions spring up after a full-term birthcan be ing at one end aconoid-point portion-b and at the other end an exterior thread 0, towhich may be applied a perforated bulb-nut d for the ready attachment ofa flexible irrigation-tube. (Not shown.)

' On the irrigation-tube a is an elongated holder-sleeve e of lesslength than the irrigation-tube, the difierence in length being inaccordance with the extent of adjustment required for expansionpurposes, usually from two to five inches. This telescopingsleeve isprovided with a tubular body part f, to the end of which is connected aswivel-nut g, which is formed with an annular groove at h to engage aninterior projection or collar 7c of said body-piece, which may besecured in place by means of short screws m. The nut g is a lever-nuthaving short lateral arms n, whereby it can be readily rotated on thethreaded end of the irrigation-tube a with which it is engaged. The bodypart f of the sleeve is provided with lateral holding-rings p, wherebyit can be held firmly and surely in position for the adjustment of thetube aand curetting wires if during an operation. The upper portion ofthe body part isslotted longltudinally, as at g, the slot being longenough to allow for the movement of the indicator 8, which may be asmall screw secured in the threaded ortion of the holder sleeve. On theface 0 the body part through which the slot is formed are provided scalemarks, whereby the extent of expansion of the Wires can be determined.'The engagement of the screw 8 with the slot also serves to preventrotation of the tube a in the holder-sleeve.

Longitudinally of the instrument extend the steel wires t, usually fourin number. These wires are connected to the point portion of theirrigation-tube a at one end of the instrument, and their other ends aresecured to the body part of the sleeve e. These wires are of the beststeel, and each two wires are 'made entire, having a bend at the pointportion, as at w, the bent part passing transversely throughperforations in the conoid point I), which is formed withprotectingnotches u, leading to such perforations, so that there will beno projecting angular portions of the wires behind the point portion.This is further guarded against by means of a slide-ring'2 of about thesame diameter as the base of the point portion andwhich is carried. bythe irrigation-tube a. Near the conoid-point the tube a is provided withsmall perforations 2 for irrigation purposes.

The outer ends of the expansion-wires are seated'in grooves 3 of thetapering portion 12 of the body part f, which is formed with a threadedextension 3. A sliding ring 4 is located on the tapering portion '1),and this ring is driven upon this tapering portion and on the ends ofthe wires in the grooves thereof by means of a lever clamping-nut 5,engaging the threaded extension 3. In this manner the outer ends of thewires are firmly secured to the body part f after adjustment in itsgrooves of the tapered portion thereof. The wires are designed to benormally straight to the end of the sleeve e, where they are nor mallyslightly bent outward in a convex form to the conoid point of theirrigation-tube, as indicated at 6. The sleeve, therefore, is longenough to extend within the expanded portion of the wires.

The sleeve e is provided with a longitudinal guide-groove 7 for slidingengagement with inward projections of the adjusting slide-rings 8 and 9and 10, which are movable on the sleeve and which are provided withinside notches 1" to engage the expansion-wires and hold them in properrelative position. The first of these rings 8 is olive-shaped andtapering forward. Its position is at or near the end of the sleeve 0.Along the sleeve are placed the other rings to keep the wires straightalong the surface of said sleeve, according to the adjustment. By meansof these slide-rings the length of the expanded portions of the wirescan be adjusted to suit the cavity, and the contour or curvation of thewires is easily controlled by means of the slide-rings, the adjustableirrigation-tube a, and the normal bend of the wires between their convexand straight portions. As the longitudinal extent of the expandedportion is regulated by the slide-rings and the radial extent thereof bythe position of the adjustable tube a relative to the holder-sleeve thecontour of the expanded portion can be readily changed to suit thecavity. As the radial expansion and retraction of the wires is efiectedwithout change of position of the adjustment-ring on the sleeve andwithout relative movement between such ring and said wires there is noliability of injury to the soft parts in changing the contour of theexpanded portion during an operation.

Having described the invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

1. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of an innerirrigation-tube, an outer telescoping holder-sleeve having lateralholding projections, longitudinal expansion devices carried by saidsleeve, and covered in at their outer ends by a bulb-point, meanscarried by said sleeve for regulating the expansive length of saiddevices, and means of adjustment for said devices in connection with theirrigation-tube, substantially as specified.

2. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of an innerirrigation-tube, an outer telescoping holder-sleeve having lateralholding projections, longitudinal expansion devices carried by saidsleeve, means car ried by said sleeve and said tube for regulating theexpansive length of said devices, and an adjusting-nut for said wiresand the irrigation-tube, substantially as specified.

3. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of an innerirrigation-tube, an outer telescoping sleeve having lateral holdingprojections, longitudinal expansionwires carried by said sleeve, aslide-ring upon said sleeve for regulating the expansive length of saidwires, slide-rings for holding the straight portions of the wires closeto the sleeve, and an adjusting-nut for said wires and the irrigationtube, substantially as specified.

4. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of an innerirrigation-tube, an outer telescoping sleeve having lateral holdingprojections, longitudinal expansionwires carried by said sleeve, abulb-point at the outer end of the irrigation-tube and having transverseperforations for the passage of said wires, a guard-ring in rear of saidbulbpoint, means carried by said sleeve for regulating the expansivelength of said wires, and an adjusting-nut in connection with theirrigation-tube for regulating the radial expansion of said wires,substantially as specified.

5. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of an innerirrigation-tube, an outer telescoping sleeve having lateral holdingprojections, longitudinal expansionwires, means for securing said wiresto said sleeve comprising a ring engaging a tapering portion of thesleeve and a securing-nut for said ring, a slide-ring carried by saidsleeve for regulating the expansive length of said wires, and an adjListing-nut in connection with the irrigation-tube for regulating theradial expansion of said wires, substantially as specified.

6. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of an innerirrigation-tube, an outer slotted telescoping sleeve having lateralholding projections, longitudinal expansion-wires carried by saidsleeve, a slide-ring upon said sleeve for regulating the expansivelength of said wires, an adjusting-nut in connection with theirrigation-tube and an indicator-screw in connection with said tubeengaging the slot of said sleeve, substantially as specified.

7. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of an innerirrigation-tube, an outer telescoping sleeve having a longitudinalgroove, longitudinal expansion-wires carried by said sleeve and en aginga bulbpoint covering in the ends OI said wires, a slide-ring forregulating the expansive length of said wires engaging said longitudinalgroove, and an adjusting-nut engaging the irrigation-tube to regulatethe radial expansion of said wires, substantially as specified.

8. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of an innerirrigation-tube, an outer telescoping sleeve having a longitudinalgroove and a tapering portion having longitudinal grooves, longitudinalexpansionwires engaging the grooves of the tapering portion of saidsleeve and engaging a'bulbpoint covering in the outer ends of saidWires, means for securing the wires to the sleeve including a slide-ringand adjusting-nut, a slide-ring for regulating the expansive length ofsaid wires engaging the longitudinal groove of the sleeve, and anadjusting-nut engaging the irrigation-tube and having a removableconnection with the sleeve, substantially as specified.

9. In an instrument of the class described, an inner irrigation-tube, anouter telescoping sleeve having lateral holding projections,longitudinal expansion-wires carried by said sleeve and engaging abulb-point at the end of said irrigation-tube, slide means upon saidsleeve for regulating the expansive length of said wires, and anadjusting-nut upon the irrigation-tube, said tube having a lateralindicator projection engaging a slot of said sleeve, substantially asspecified.

10. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of an innerirrigation-tube, an outer telescoping sleeve having lateral holdingprojections, longitudinal expansion devices carried by said sleeve,means carried by said sleeve for regulating the expansive length of saiddevices, an adjusting-nut for the irrigation-tube, and means forindicating the expansion of said devices, substantially as specified.

1 1. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of aninner irrigation-tube, an outer telescoping sleeve having lateralholding projections, longitudinal expansion devices carried by saidsleeve, means carried by said sleeve for regulating the expansive lengthof said devices, and means for adjusting the radial expansion of saiddevices in connection with the irrigating-tube, substantially asspecified.

12. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of an innerirrigation-tube, an outer telescoping sleeve having lateral holdingprojections, longitudinal expansion devices carried by said sleeve,means carried by said sleeve for regulating the ex ansive length of saiddevices, means for a justing the radial expansion of said devices inconnection with the irrigating-tube, and means for indicating theadjustment, substantially asspecified.

13. An instrument for treatment of the uterine cavity, having incombination, an elongated channeled sleeve portion an adjustableirrigation-tube extending through the same, longitudinal expansion-wiresin connection with said tube and said sleeve portion, and notchedslide-rings engaging said wires and said channeled sleeve portion,substantially as specified.

14. An instrument for treatment of the uterine cavity, having anirrigation-tube, a bulb-point thereon, a sleeve portion, pairs ofadjustable elastic expansion-wires formed entire and transverselyengaging the bulb-point, means for adjustably securing the ends of saidwires to said sleeve portion, and means for regulating the extent oflongitudinal expansion.

15. In an instrument for treatment of the uterine cavity, in combinationwith a main irrigation-tube, and an adjusting-sleeve thereon, of pairsof longitudinal elastic steel expansion-wires jmade entire and having atransverse bend to engage the main stem, and near such bend normaloutward-curved portions terminatin in straight longitudinal portions,substantia ly as specified.

16. In an instrument of the character described the combination with aperforated irrigating-tube, a holder-sleeve portion and adjustindevices, of adjustable elastic wires having t eir middle portions bentand extending transversely through projections of said tube to form twoexpansion-wires, substantially as specified.

17. In an instrument of the character described, an irrigating-tube,expansion-wires in connection with the end thereof, an elongatedholder-sleeve extending within the expansive portions of said wires, anut on said tube, for radial adjustment of said expansive portions, anda ring on said sleeve for longitudinal adjustment of said expansiveportions, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J. D. SOURWINE.

Witnesses:

THOMAS HARWOOD, W. ALLRIOH.

